Card case



June 15, 1937. F H HARTZELL 2,084,085

' CARD CASE Original Filed May 28, 1934 Patented June 15, 1937 PATENTOFFICE CARD` CASE.

Forest H. Hartzell, Dayton, Ohio Application May 28, 1934, Serial No.727,946 Renewed November 12, i936 24 Claims.

This invention relates to card cases for business cards and the like andmore particularly to a card dispensing holder from which the cards maybe successively ejected one at a time.

Whereas heretofore card dispensing devices have been of bulky size,rigid construction and of too heavy weight to be conveniently carried inones pocket, the present card dispensing holder is preferably a folderof leather or the like of flexible or collapsible character, convenientform and weight, goed appearance and adapted to assure ejection of acard at each operation.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well asthe means and mode of l5 operation of card dispensing devices wherebythey may not only be economically manufactured, but will be moreefficient in use, capable of being easily operated, positive in action,of relatively few parts and unlikely to get out of 2G repair.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a nexible folder type ofcard holder equipped with card ejector means. ,t

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallydisposing the card supply in a staggered or echelon relation whereby theejector device may more readily engage a card at each operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cardretaining and guiding means,

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ejectorslide therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tensioningleaf for maintaining the cards under pressure.

A further object of the invention is the concealment of the slotsthrough which the ejector slide operates. Y

A further object of the. invention is the provision of secure buteconomical means and method for interconnecting the various parts.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as willmore fully appear in the specication, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and themode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described andset forth in the claims.

In the drawing wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously notnecessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the assembled card dispensing device forming thesubject matter hereof in 55 closed condition. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveView of the card dispensing device in unfolded or eX- tended condition.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional vie'vv. Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view. Fig. 5 is a disassembled view of component parts of thedevice. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views. r

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The present card holder and dispensing device comprises a folder ofleather or other flexible material having therein a metallic trough-like10 guide and retainer for the cards upon which is mounted an ejectorslide. One of the inturned flaps of the folder forms a yielding abutmentfor one end of the stack of cards which due to theV inclined relation ofthe folder flap are disposed in oifset or staggered relation whereby theejector slide may more readily engage the protruding edges of the cardssingly. The leather flap yieldingly permits the ejector slide to beretracted beyond the end of the card to be engaged. A separate curvedspring plate which forms a yielding side for the retainer interiorly ofthe folder, bears upon the opposite terminal portions of the cards topress the initial card of the series into the path of the ejector slideand also into the plane of a discharge slot through which the card isejected from the holder. The ejector slide is actuated by a slidingbutton accessible exteriorly of the folder and connected with theejector through slots which are concealed beneath an escutcheon.

Referring to the drawing, l is a fiexible folder of leather or the likewhich includes the end flap 2 and the side flaps 3 3 to be folded intooverlapping relation and secured by a snap fastener ll or otherfastening device over the terminal flap 2, which extends interiorly ofsuch side flaps. The folder is provided with an opening 5 in one side toafford access to the ejector slide button, which opening is surroundedand its margin overlaid by an escutcheon plate 6 which may be highlyornamental, embossed or of fret work design. The escutcheon illustratedis of quite plain and simple design.

Secured interiorly` of the folder i to the side thereof Vcarrying theescutcheon 6 is a metallic stiifening and guide plate 1 preferably ofthin light alloy such as duraluminum or the like. The side margins 'ofthe guide plate are upturned at t in conformity with the width of thecards and their edges ,are inwardly fianged at 9 in slightlyoverhangingrelation with the pack of cards l0. At one end of the guideplate the upstanding side walls are beveled as at Il. The stiffening andguide plate `l with its upstanding inwardly flanged sides 8 forms asubstantially troughshaped receptacle for the pack of cards I0. Thistrough-like receptacle is entirely open on one side and at one end. Atthe opposite end the guide plate carries an angular abutment head I2 onewall of which extends perpendicular to the plane of the guide plate 'Ibut is spaced away therefrom sufficiently to afford a discharge slot I 3for the card to be ejected, while the other wall of the head I2overhangs the end of the card pack in parallel relation with theplate 1. The more popular business cards have thickness of six, eight,or ten thousandths of an inch. The discharge slot I3 intermediate thehead I2 and plate 'i is preferably ten thousandths of an inch wide sothat it will permit the passage of a. card of the greatest thickness butwill not permit the simultaneous passage of two cards of the leastthickness. These dimensions are mentioned only for illustrative purposesand with no intent nor purpose of unduly limiting the invention norconfining it to any particular dimensions, thickness or character ofcards. It is to be understood that the device may be made in varioussizes for tickets, checks or cards of thickness other than thosementioned.

The abutment head I2 is located in such relation with the end of theguide plate or retainer I that the plate projects slightly beyond thehead I2 and discharge slot affording a narrow projecting ledge I4 whichhas been found quite advantageous. The stiifening and guide plate I isprovided with parallel spaced slots I5 separated slightly more than thewidth of the access opening 5 in the folder, whereby the slots will bepositioned beneath the escutcheon plate 6 and concealed thereby. Theescutcheon plate is riveted or otherwise secured to the guide plate Iwith the folder material contiguous to the margin of the opening 5clamped therebetween. 'I'he preferable mode of attachment is by welding,soldering or otherwise attaching to the under side of the escutcheonplate 6 thin strips I6 of metal having extruded eyelets Il to beprojected through corresponding holes in the folder material and thencethrough registering holes I8 in the guide plate l where the ends of theextrusions I'I are expanded or clenched, preferably by a spinning orstaking operation. The holes I8 are preferably countersunk to receivethe upset ends of the extrusions substantially ush with the guide plate'I.

Slidingly mounted upon the inner face of the stiflening and guide plateI for reciprocatory motion is an ejector plate 20, the rear edge ofwhich is slightly upturned at 2| to the extent of the thickness of thethinnest card or ticket to be dispensed. This is best achieved byflanging the ejector slide at substantially right angle to the planethereof and temporarily applying in the flange angle a gage platesubstantially equal to the thickness of the thinnest card, usually aboutsix thousandths of an inch, and then shearing the upturned flange 2Iflush with such plate.

The reciprocatory ejector plate 20 is provided with two extrudedprojections or eyelets 22 spaced to correspond with the parallel slotsI5 through which they extend into engagement with the movable operatingbutton 23 located within the opening 5. The operating button is formedwith lateral extensions 24 which project beneath the escutcheon plateand underlying folder material at opposite sides of the opening 5. Thebutton extensions 24 are also provided with extruded projections oreyelets 25 registering with the extrusions 22 of the ejector plate. Theextrusions or eyelets of one member are of sufficient size to bereceived within those of the other member as illustrated in detail inFig. 6,/ whereby the exterior or enclosing extrusions or eyelets act asspacers to maintain the ejector plate and operator button sufficientlyspaced when interconnected to prevent binding and to enable them toslide freely to and fro relative to the plate 1 through the spaced slotsI5 of which they are interconnected. The inner set of the telescopedextrusions or eyelets are expanded or upset to firmly and positivelysecure the parts together through the slots I5. Overlying the pack ofcards I to be dispensed, is an independent curved spring plate 26substantially the same size as the cards. The tension plate 26 engagesbeneath the inturned flanges 8 by which it is confined with. its concaveside toward the cards. slightly deflected as at 2l so that when thesupply of cards is exhausted the plate cannot be engaged by the ejectorslide which will pass freely thereunder, nor be projected through theoutlet slot I3. The curved spring plate 26 is free for removal from theassembly, and when in position it exerts pressure on the end portions ofthe card pack to press one end of the underlying card into the plane ofthe discharge slot I3 and the other end into the path of the upturnedflange 2I of the ejector slide 20. The ejector plate 20 and the guideslots I5 are of such length that when the ejector plate is fullyretracted its flanged rear margin will project slightly beyond the rearmargin of the guide plate I where it abuts upon the. yielding flexibleterminal flap 2 of the folder, slightly beyond the end of the lowermostcard of the pack. Thus the flexible terminal ap 2 forms a yieldingabutment or stop for the ejector slide. When the terminal flap 2 isinfolded over the card pack it tends to assume an inclined relation anddistorts the stack or pack of cards I0 into staggered, stepped orechelon relation wherein the lowermost card or ticket, or that to benext ejected, projects farthest rearwardly. As the ejector slide movesrearwardly the flap 2 will yield sufllciently to enable the ejectingflange 2Ik to pass beyond the edge of the card. It is found thatpositive engagement of the ejector slide with the card is assured by theretraction of this engaging edge of the ejector slide slightly beyondthe terminal margin of the plate I. Upon advancement of the slide 20from such rearward engaging position the engaged card is ejected throughthe discharge slot I3, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, a `distancesufficient to enable it to be grasped and manually withdrawn therefrom.

The folder is quite flexible and is collapsible against the yieldingtension of the spring plate 26, its bulk diminishing with the supply ofcards. Being non-rigid and having minimum parts it is quite light inweight and possesses a comfortable Y feel in the operators hand, quitedifferent from the usual rigid, heavy metallic box-type of card holders.

v The ejector slideA 20 is of such width as to fit between theupstanding sides of the reinforcement and guide plate 1 with a freesliding fit at its opposite edges. This marginal bearing of the slide inconnection with the parallel slots I serves tokeep the slide aligned andits' engaging edge parallel with that of the card to be ejected. Theslide 20 is preferably, although not necessarily, long enough toentirely cover and conceal the slots I5 from the interior of thereinforce- Its ends arement and guide unit 1, while said slots arecovered and concealed from the outside by the escutcheon plate B andinterposed envelope material.

'I'he terminal flap 2 is preferably formed as a separate piece andstitched to the envelope portion I in an inturned position with thejoined edges substantially flush in overlying relation. By so attachingthe flap 2 the case will present a better appearance and there Will beno bulging of the end, and further the flap will be inclined to theplane of the case and so tend to confine the stack of cards in astaggered or offset relation.

Whereas prior card cases have usually been of rigid construction whichwhen subjected to pressure in ones pocket are liable to be crushed orbent and so interfere with the smooth operation of the ejector, thepresent case is sufficiently flexible and yielding that it Will not bedamaged by any ordinary pressure. The overhang or extension of the guideplate l beyond the abutment head I2 and discharge slot i3 thus formingthe ledge I4, affords a stop for the head l2 when the case is subjectedto extreme pressure which other- Wise might force the front wall of theabutment head I2 past the end of the guide plate 'l where these partsmight become locked or distorted to such extent as to close thedischarge slot i3 and prevent ejection of the card.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the inventioninto effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its formsor modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a card dispensing device, a flexible folder for enclosing a packof cards, a stiffening and guide plate secured to one side of the folderinteriorly thereof, a reciprocatory ejector slide mounted on the guideplate, an abutment head for the card pack in spaced relation with theguide plate to afford therebetween a discharge slot, said folder havingan access opening, an escutcheon plate surrounding the opening, anoperator button movable within the access opening, extensions thereonprojecting beneath the escutcheon plate and there interconnected withthe ejector slide, and a yielding abutment for the card pack engaged bythe ejector slide in its retractive movement to facilitate engagementwith a card to be ejected.

2. A card dispensing device including a flexible folder for enclosing apack of cards to be dispensed, a stiffening and guide plate securedWithin the folder, a reciprocatory ejector slide mounted thereon, anabutment for confining the card pack there being a slot for discharge ofthe cards one by one and an operator button connected With the ejectorslide and operable from the exterior of the folder to reciprocate theejector slide.

3. A card dispensing device including a flexible folder for enclosing apack of cards to be clispensed, a spring member Within the folder andbearing upon the pack of cards, said spring member being `subject tomanual tension by compression of the flexible folder, card ejector meansinteriorly of the folder for ejecting cards therefrom one at a time, andmeans operable from the exterior of the folder for actuating the ejectormeans.

4. In a card dispensing device, a flexible leather folder for enclosinga pack of cards to be dispensed, including a terminal ap to be `inturnedover the card pack, a reciprocatory card ejector means interiorly of thefolder for ejecting the cards one at a time, actuating means foroperating the ejector slide from the exterior of the folder, saidejector means having a yielding engagement with the terminal flap uponretraction thereof to facilitate its engagement With a card to bedispensed.

5. In a card dispensing device, a flexible folder for enclosing a packof cards to be dispensed including overlapping side flaps and an endilap to be enclosed therebeneath, a guide plate 1ocated interiorly ofthe folder lextending into proximate relation with a discharge outlet, areciprocatory ejector slide mounted on the guide plate, and an operatordevice for the ejector accessible from the exterior of the folder.

6. In a card dispensing device, a flexible folder for enclosing a packof cards to be dispensed including overlapping detachably engageableside flaps and an end flap to be enclosed beneath the side flaps, `saidflaps being of lyielding character thereby permitting pressureexternally applied to the folder to be transmitted to the enclosed packof cards for urging a card of such pack into position to be ejected fromthe folder, card ejector means enclosed within the flexible folder andactuating means therefor accessible from the exterior of the folder fordischarging the cards one at a time vfrom said folder through any outletslot.

'7. In a card dispensing device a collapsible `container of flexiblematerial to enclose a pack of cards to be dispensed, and having anoutlet opening for discharge of cards, card ejector means enclosedwithin the container for ejecting cards therefrom one at a time, andactuating means accessible from the exterior of the container foroperating the card ejector means.

8. A card dispensing device including a receiver for a pack of cards tobe dispensed hav- Iing a card ejector opening, means for disposing thecard pack in echelon within the receiver whereby the card next to bedispensed will project rearwardly away from the ejector opening beyondother cards of the pack, means for exerting pressure upon the card packwithin the receiver for urging a card of the pack into position forejection from the receiver, and a reciprocatory card ejector engageablewith the edge of the card projecting farthest from the pack.

9. In a card dispensing device a container for a ,packof cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector for discharging the cards from thecontainer one at a time, and a yielding abutment engaged by thereciprocatory ejector upon its retrograde .movement and subject todisplacement thereby to permit the ejector to Vpass beyond the limit ofthe card pack to enable its engagement with a card thereof.

10. In a card dispensing device, a container for a pack of cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector for discharging the cards therefromone at a time, and a yielding end wall for the container confining thecards but yielding to the retrograde movement of the ejector to permitthe ejector to be retracted beyond the rearmost card of the pack.

11. In a card dispensing device, a container for a pack of cards to bedispensed having a discharge opening through which the cards are to beejected, a reciprocatory ejector for discharging the cards therefrom oneat a time, and inclined means disposing the card pack in echelon wherebythe card next to be ejected will project farthest from the dischargeopening into the path of the reciprocatory ejector for engagementthereby.

12. In a card dispensing device a guide plate, upstanding side wallstherefor and an abutment head disposed in spaced relation with the guideplate to afford a discharge slot therebetween, the side Walls beinginwardly anged, said structure being open at its top and at one end, areciprocatory ejector mounted on the guide plate, and an independentcurved spring plate removably engaged beneath the flanges of the sidewalls forming a. yielding closure for the open top of the guide platestructure and exerting pressure on opposite terminal portions of thecard pack.

13. In a card dispensing device, a receptacle for a pack of car-ds to bedispensed having an open side, inwardly projecting ilanges contiguous tothe open side of the receptacle, a reciproca-tory ejector fordischarging the cards therefrom one at a time, and a spring pressureplate independent of the receptacle removably positioned therein beneathsaid inwardly projecting flanges, said plate being of substantially thefull width of the cards to be dispensed and bent into arcuate form andengageable with the car-d pack with its concave side adjacent theretoand abutting its convex side against said flanges, the pack engagingends of the plate being slightly bent in reverse direction away from thecard pack.

14. In a card dispensing device, a receptacle for a pack of cards to bedispense-d, having a discharge outlet therefrom, said receptacle beingopen at one side and inwardly iianged at said open side, traveling cardejector means within the receptacle and operable from the exteriorthereof` and a curved spring pressure plate independent of thereceptacle removably engageable in the open side thereof beneath itsinwarld flanges, said plate bearing upon the opposite terminal portionsof the card pack and pressing one 'end of the next card to be ejectedinto the plane of the discharge outlet and the opposite end of said cardinto the path of travel of the ejector, said spring plate forming ayielding removable side wall for the receptacle.

l5. In a card ldispensing device, a container for a pack of cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector slide therein, a movable actuatingbutton exteriorly of the container for reciprocating the ejector slide,an escutcheon plate upon the container having an opening within whichthe button is operable, extensions upon the actuating button projectingbeneath th'e escutcheon plate, said container having slots thereinlocated beneath the escutcheon plate through which the ejector slide isconnected with the button extensions, whereby the slots andinterconnections of the button extensions with the ejector slide areconcealed.

16. In a card dispensing device, a contaner for a pack of car-ds to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector slide therein, an actuating buttonfor the slide exteriorly of the container and operatively connectedtherewith through a slot in the container, and an escutcheon plate uponthe exterior of the container concealing the said slot and theinterconnection of the button with the slide.

1'7. In a card dispensing device, a contaner for a pack of cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector slide therein, an actuating buttonfor the slide exteriorly of the container and operatively connectedtherewith, an escutcheon plate exteriorly of the container having anopening therein within which the button is movable, said containerhaving spaced parallel slots therein located beneath the escutcheonplate beyond the limits of said opening, extensions on said buttonprojecting beneath the escutcheon plate and interconnections between,the button extensions and the ejector slide through said slots, theslots and extensions being concealed from view by the escutcheon.

18. In a card dispensing device, a receiver for a pack of cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector siide within the pack receiver, anactuating button therefor, said container having a slot therein throughwhich the ejector slide and button are interconnected, an integralextruded eyelet on one of said members projecting through said slot intoengagement in a corresponding hole in the other member to xedlyinterconnect the ejector slide and the actuating button interiorly andexteriorly respectively of the pack receiver.

19. In a card dispensing device, a receiver for a pack of cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector slide within the pack receiver, anactuating button therefor, said container having a slot therein throughwhich the ejector slide and button are interconnected, integral extrudedeyelets on both of said members projecting through said slot, oneenclosed within the other, whereby the lcuter extruded eyelet limits theapproach of the button and slide toward each other and the innerextruded eyelet interconnects said members one with the other for unisonmovement.

20. In a card dispensing device, a receiver for a pack of cards to bedispensed, a reciprocatory ejector slide within the pack receiver, anactuating button therefor, said container having a slot therein throughwhich the ejector slide and button are interconnected, an escutcheoncarried by the receiver and having an opening therein within which thebutton is movable, and a flexible cover for the pack receiver having acorresponding opening therein, the margin of which is clamped betweensaid escutcheon and the pack receiver.

21. In a dispensing device for cards, a unitary container for a pack ofcards having a discharge slot at one end thereof and including asubstantially rigid wall contiguous thereto adapted to guide a card tothe discharge slot, ejector means for discharging cards one at a timethrough they slot, and a yielding wall for said container opposite saidrigid wall confining the cards within the container therebetween andsubject to eX- ternal pressure by which the cards are pressed towardsuch rigid guide wall into position for successive discharge thereof.

22. In a dispensing device for cards, a container for a pack of cardshaving a discharge outlet, ejector means for ejecting the cards oneA ata time therefrom, and a yielding cover for said pack of cards subject tomanual pressure by the operator for urging the cards successively intoposition for ejection from the container.

23, In a dispensing .device for cards, a co1- lapsible enclosure for apack of cards Within which the cards may be subjected to manual pressureby the operator, said enclosure having a discharge opening through whichthe cards may be ejected one by one, and ejector means within theenclosure for ejecting said cards singly through said opening.

24. A dispensing device for cards including a unitary container for apack of cards having a discharge slot at one end thereof, ejector meansassociated therewith for ejecting the cards one at a time through saidopening, and a depressible removable cover for said container subject tomanual pressure by the operator for urging the cards of the packsuccessively into position for discharge through the said slot by theejector means.

FOREST H. HARTZELL.

